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Benq 1640 OEM vs Retail

PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:32 pm
by M17
What is the difference between retail and oem version of Benq 1640?

Software wise and cable wise?

Did anyone get the Oem version, what did you get with the drive?

I thinking of getting oem one from newegg.

Thanks
M17

PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:45 pm
by Ian
It's really up to the retailer as to whether or not you get anything with the drive. I bought the OEM from Newegg and got nothing with it.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:08 pm
by M17
So the chances of getting Benq Software Disc with all the programs that are listed in the review are slim?
Ian was that the Benq 1640 oem drive or some other drive?
Thanks
M17

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 5:53 am
by stix
I bought the "beige" OEM 1640 from NewEgg. Color is actually light grey. It came with Nero OEM suite: Nero express 6.3.1.26, Nero Vision Express 2.1.2.21, and Nero Showtime 1.5.0.44. (Updates available at Nero.com.) You can download the BenQ Qsuite, new firmware, etc at BenQ's website.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 10:37 am
by sqlb
I have both 1640 OEM and Retail. Hardware wise, other than the faceplate there os no difference. Software retail has bundled Nero, OEM I got from NewEgg was just the drive

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:07 am
by Ian
M17 wrote:So the chances of getting Benq Software Disc with all the programs that are listed in the review are slim?


If you want that, I'd get the retail. Last time I checked, Shop4tech.com had it for a good price.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:41 pm
by M17
Ok thanks.
Ian that is a good price.
But I just might wait for 1650. Not sure yet.
Thanks again
M17

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 7:05 pm
by dolphinius_rex
The DW1640 has now been discontinued, and is considered an end of line product. I've just been told by my contact at NCIX.com that they are now shipping Retail boxes for the OEM product sales (maybe not for every order, so buyer beware).

It looks like stock is starting to run low?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 7:49 pm
by Gen-An
dolphinius_rex wrote:The DW1640 has now been discontinued, and is considered an end of line product.


Already?! :o

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:19 pm
by Ian
Yep, get ready for the DW1650.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:30 pm
by [buck]
dolphinius_rex wrote:The DW1640 has now been discontinued, and is considered an end of line product. I've just been told by my contact at NCIX.com that they are now shipping Retail boxes for the OEM product sales (maybe not for every order, so buyer beware).

It looks like stock is starting to run low?


Does that mean firmware support will slow down/stop? I just got my 1640 a week ago. I hope Benq doesn't turn into NEC with such short product life cycles. The 1620 was around for a LONG time!

PostPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 2:11 am
by TCAS
Does anyone knows when BenQ 1650 will be available in US market?.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 2:47 am
by dodecahedron
dolphinius_rex wrote:The DW1640 has now been discontinued, and is considered an end of line product.

does anyone know if the DW1650 will be as good as / better than the DW1640 ?

PostPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:08 am
by dolphinius_rex
TCAS wrote:Does anyone knows when BenQ 1650 will be available in US market?.


The local North American reps are already talking about the DW1650, so I'd say it's going to be soon.

I don't know how BenQ will treat firmware releases for the DW1640, but it'll be a while before it really needs one anyways. Only new DVDRDL and DVDRW media will need to be added probably. It already has the best support for DVDR media out of every drive on the market right now.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:10 am
by dolphinius_rex
dodecahedron wrote:
dolphinius_rex wrote:The DW1640 has now been discontinued, and is considered an end of line product.

does anyone know if the DW1650 will be as good as / better than the DW1640 ?


Only time will tell... I think it will have a lot to do with whether Philips OEM's the drive or not though.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:22 am
by RJW
dolphinius_rex wrote:
TCAS wrote:Does anyone knows when BenQ 1650 will be available in US market?.


The local North American reps are already talking about the DW1650, so I'd say it's going to be soon.

I don't know how BenQ will treat firmware releases for the DW1640, but it'll be a while before it really needs one anyways. Only new DVDRDL and DVDRW media will need to be added probably. It already has the best support for DVDR media out of every drive on the market right now.


Hmm let's see how good benq really is. If they lame they say Solid burn should solve any additional media support. :D
Which is partially true for recordables. Still I thought benq 1640 wasn't working that well with fresh high speed rewritables if I remember correctly. (after 2 /3 times writeing the problem is mostly solved.)

Also this makes me think what will Philips do. They put a large ammount of "SAFE YOUR TAPE PACKAGES" out which is the drive + a video convertor for arround 100 euro.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:30 am
by rafi_d
Can anyone comment on the spec of the 1650 here:
http://www.benq.com/Products/product.cf ... ifications

I'm not sure I see much difference over the 1640 :o

BTW - doesn't the fact that they do not support read/write of DVD-RAM format - make them inferior to the LG 4167 ?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:41 am
by Ian
rafi_d wrote:Can anyone comment on the spec of the 1650 here: ?


Read here: http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=20654

BTW - doesn't the fact that they do not support read/write of DVD-RAM format - make them inferior to the LG 4167 ?


Only if you need DVD-RAM. The DW1640 supports a number of other features that the LG doesn't have.

BenQ also has a drive with DVD-RAM:

http://www.benq.com/Products/product.cfm?product=617

PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:54 am
by rafi_d
Ian wrote:
BTW - doesn't the fact that they do not support read/write of DVD-RAM format - make them inferior to the LG 4167 ?


Only if you need DVD-RAM. The DW1640 supports a number of other features that the LG doesn't have.

:wink:

Thanks for the quick response!
Actually - it has been a long time since I was shopping for a new burner, and have good experience with my old LG till today, so you can say I am an LG fan... I did read the other posts, and also your excellent review on the good 1640 . Too bad the LG 4167 review is not available (yet...) .
Since the use of the burner will be for disk-data backups, I thought the DVD-RAM format was important . isn't it ? :o Also it is to be used on a "weaker" PC (PIII) and I think the CPU load will be important. I noticed in your review - this drive takes more CPU power then the others (no data on the 4167 there) . I was hoping that the new one - 1650 might improve on that . Any hints on that from Benq ? We'll probably have to wait for your review... :)